Ancestor rites

Pitru Paksha 2026

Saturday, 26 September 2026 to Saturday, 10 October 2026

The 16-day period for Shraddh, tarpan and pind daan to honour ancestors. 26 September to 10 October 2026, ending on Sarva Pitru Amavasya.

Pitru Paksha (also called Shraddh Paksha or Mahalaya Paksha) is the fortnight in which Hindus remember and make offerings to departed ancestors. In 2026 it runs from Saturday 26 September (Purnima Shraddh) to Saturday 10 October, when Sarva Pitru Amavasya (Mahalaya Amavasya) closes it.

The central rule is that the Shraddh of a person is performed on the tithi (lunar day) on which they passed away, not on the calendar date. Each of the 16 tithis has its own date this year: use the Shraddh tithi finder below to see yours. If the tithi is not known, Sarva Pitru Amavasya on 10 October is the day for all ancestors.

Shraddh tithi finder

Enter the date (and, if known, the time in India) that your family member passed away. We find the tithi of that moment and show your Shraddh date in Pitru Paksha 2026.

Shraddh date for every tithi, 2026

Purnima ShraddhSat 26 Sep
Pratipada ShraddhSun 27 Sep
Dwitiya ShraddhMon 28 Sep
Tritiya ShraddhTue 29 Sep
Chaturthi ShraddhWed 30 Sep
Panchami ShraddhThu 1 Oct
Shashthi ShraddhThu 1 Oct
Saptami ShraddhFri 2 Oct
Ashtami ShraddhSat 3 Oct
Navami ShraddhSun 4 Oct
Dashami ShraddhMon 5 Oct
Ekadashi ShraddhTue 6 Oct
Dwadashi ShraddhWed 7 Oct
Trayodashi ShraddhThu 8 Oct
Chaturdashi ShraddhFri 9 Oct
Amavasya ShraddhSat 10 Oct

Tithi as prevailing in the afternoon (aparahna, Delhi). Panchangs may differ by a day when a tithi is very short.

Rituals

Tarpan: water offered with black sesame and kusha grass, facing south.
Pind daan: offering rice balls (pinda) with sesame, barley and ghee.
Feeding a Brahmin, the poor and animals (cow, crow, dog), and giving food, clothes or money in charity.
Sattvik meals at home: no onion, garlic, meat or alcohol.

Do

Offer Shraddh on the correct tithi, ideally at midday (Kutup and Rohina muhurat).
Stay humble, avoid arguments and turn no hungry visitor away.
Donate food and clothes in the name of your ancestors.

Avoid

By custom, avoid weddings, engagements, griha pravesh and naming ceremonies.
By custom, avoid buying a vehicle, gold, property or new clothes, and avoid starting a business.
Avoid non-vegetarian food, alcohol and haircuts on the Shraddh day.

Frequently asked questions

When is Pitru Paksha 2026?

From Saturday 26 September to Saturday 10 October 2026. Sarva Pitru Amavasya (Mahalaya) is on 10 October.

What if I do not know the tithi of death?

Perform Shraddh on Sarva Pitru Amavasya, 10 October 2026. Its merit is considered equal to performing Shraddh on every tithi.

Which tithi is Matru Navami?

Navami, on 4 October 2026, is set aside for mothers and married women who died before their husbands.

Can women perform Shraddh?

Yes. Many traditions allow daughters, wives and daughters-in-law to perform Shraddh when no male descendant is available. Follow your family custom and priest.

Festival dates follow the Hindu lunar calendar (tithi) and can differ by a day between regions and panchangs. Times are computed for each city from NASA JPL planetary data. Confirm with your local temple or priest for religious observances.

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